Early Childhood Education, Graduate Certificate
Program Description
The Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education may also be completed as an area of emphasis within the M.A. in Education. This certificate is designed for licensed elementary teachers seeking to add an endorsement in early education. The goal of this graduate certificate is to strengthen knowledge of early childhood pedagogy, research-based approaches and methods, and best practices for providing a holistic and integrated approach to support the education of young children. Satisfactory completion of the graduate certificate and state licensure requirements leads to the addition of PreK-K to an existing, current, regular, elementary education teaching license.
Teacher Licensure
A teacher with a valid West Virginia professional license who wants to add another teaching endorsement may do so by completing the course requirements, a performance assessment at the appropriate grade level, and, where specified, acceptable scores on the appropriate Praxis II test. Applicants from other states should verify eligibility for added endorsements through their state’s Department of Education.
Admission Requirements
Prospective certificate-only students should apply for admission to Marshall University as a Certificate/Professional Development student and select, on the application form, the certificate they wish to pursue. Applicants must have:
- A baccalaureate degree from an accepted, accredited college or university with an undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.50 or higher on a 4.0 scale; or
- A master’s degree from an accepted, regionally accredited institution.
Applicants may be asked to submit additional materials, such as documentation of current teacher licensure, before an admission decision is made.
Graduation Requirements
Twenty four credit hours are required for completion of the early childhood education graduate certificate, including a 3-hour clinical experience, and passing the Education of Young Children Praxis II Test.
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CI 605 | Trauma Res. Child Guid. in ECE | 3 |
| CI 630 | Practicum Early Childhood Ed | 3 |
| CI 631 | Early Child. Approach & Method | 3 |
| CI 632 | Early Childhood Programs | 3 |
| CI 633 | Adult Involve in Early Ed | 3 |
| CI 634 | Lang/Cog Early Childhood | 3 |
| EDF 513 | Human Growth Dev Birth-8 Yr | 3 |
| Choose one course from the following list: | 3 | |
| Appli Software Class Curr Area | ||
| Instructional Design & Tech | ||
| Using Internet in Classroom | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 24 | |
Plan of Study
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| CI 605 | Trauma Res. Child Guid. in ECE | 3 |
| EDF 513 | Human Growth Dev Birth-8 Yr | 3 |
| CI 630 | Practicum Early Childhood Ed | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 7 | |
| Spring | ||
| CI 631 | Early Child. Approach & Method | 3 |
| CI 634 | Lang/Cog Early Childhood | 3 |
| CI 630 | Practicum Early Childhood Ed | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 7 | |
| Summer | ||
| CI 632 | Early Childhood Programs | 3 |
| CI 633 | Adult Involve in Early Ed | 3 |
| CI 630 | Practicum Early Childhood Ed | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 7 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 21 | |
Students will also choose one of the following:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one course from the list below: | 3 | |
| Appli Software Class Curr Area (offered in Fall, Spring, Summer) | ||
| Instructional Design & Tech (only offered in the Fall) | ||
| Using Internet in Classroom (offered Fall, Spring, Summer) | ||
Total Credit Hours - 24